The New Student's Reference Work/Khiva

Khiva (kē' va), a khanate of Turkestan in central Asia, now a Russian vassal state. It contains about 22,320 square miles, the surface being mostly a sandy desert, with many fertile tracts scattered over it. The population, half of which is Turcoman, is estimated at 800,000. Ever since the Russians entered central Asia there has been more or less strife and hostility between them and the Khivans. The khan has no power to make treaties with foreign powers without the sanction of Russia. The chief town is Khiva (population about 5,000). The products are chiefly silk and cotton. See works by Burnaby and Landsell.